Bill Hogan, Assistant
Superintendent for Business Affairs, presented on the various
facilities currently available to the City School District of Albany
and their potential as spaces for future middle schools to address
long-term enrollment

The scenarios provided are
intended as "what if" situations and are not intended as the
only possible options. They are intended to foster rather than
limit conversation on the need for a long-term solution

It is important to note
that this is not a discussion of potential changes for the
2017-18 school year. The phase one configuration committee has
already recommended to the board that the 50 North Lark facility
serve as the interim middle school for the next 3-5 years

Mr. Hogan opened his
presentation with a discussion of the renovations that will
be done to ensure 50 North Lark is an equitable space by
September 2017

This summary includes the
main topics of discussion that arose from each scenario. For
additional information, view Mr. Hogan's presentation in full
here

Possible scenario #1: Continue
to use buildings as already planned for 2017-18

Addresses the increase in
enrollment, but does not allow sixth grades to be moved into
middle school buildings at this time

The committee discussed the
importance of this move in terms of providing an equitable
experience to all families and the developmental appropriateness
of sixth-graders being housed in middle rather than elementary
school

Possible scenario #2: Keep 50
North Lark as a middle school and make North Albany Academy a fourth
middle school

In addition to the
construction costs that would still leave North Albany without
an equitable auditorium, the inefficient use of staff would
provide an additional annual cost

This would also prevent
North Albany from housing a potential Newcomer Program for ENL
and refugee students

Arbor Hill would require
renovation to house the elementary students removed from North
Albany although currently 20% of the building is undeveloped

The committee discussed
that regardless of the site, planning for a fourth middle school
may be necessary based off the assumptions of the forecast in
the demographic study including special populations and the
ultimate goal of housing sixth grades in middle school buildings

Possible scenario #3: Create a
third large middle school at Arbor Hill and 50 North Lark becomes an
elementary building

Arbor Hill would be
renovated to make use of the undeveloped space resulting in a
large middle school with an enrollment of 800 students. This
raised several question and concerns, including the ability for
such a large middle school to provide an equitable experience

Many commented that
this was far too many students for one building and would
not be an equitable experience

A counterpoint was
raised that there may be no record of successful middle
schools of that size within Albany because of inequitable
staffing and resources

Discussion of the
"magic number" of enrollment for middle schools being 600
students, a well as the topic of thematic schools, both of
which will be addressed in the January presentation